Susan Barnes is a founding member of her synagogue's Chevra Kadisha, the group of volunteers who visit the sick, comfort mourners and prepare people who have died for burial by performing taharah (ritual washing and placing the body in a coffin) and shmirah (guarding the dead person between death and burial).  Susan is also a member of Kavod v'Nichum, which encourages and assists Chevra Kadisha groups throughout North America.  She has taught about Jewish practices around death and dying at Limmud Bay Area, the annual North American Chevra Kadisha conference, the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center, synagogues and Vacaville State Prison.